MVP Impressions

[Granatofan]

He guys, we found him! I never thought I'd actually get to talk to THE fan of cursor-style batting. Gosh, I don't know what to ask him first!

Well, the size of them doesn't really matter, it's more the contact, though I prefer them long and lean to short and round. Tickling contact along the edges should cause pop-ups and dribblers, while solid contact in the sweet spot should allow you to pop one out with force.

I'm turned on.

[Sudz]

how do u K the CPU?

Learn how to pitch.

suck my right nut.

[Sudz]

how do u K the CPU?

I couldn't strike the CPU out on All-Star so I asked myself...how do I end up striking out? 75% of the time it is by chasing bad pitches in the dirt or high outside of the strike zone. On All-Star if you throw a strike and don't hit the meter spot then the CPU will hit the ball. Try throwing pitches significantly out of the zone occassionally. They will chase them or foul them off more than you think.

I think when I first got the game I tried to paint the corners too much. That meant if I missed on the pitch meter the ball would miss in the strike zone. Now, with a good hitter I am not afraid to aim outside of the strike zone even if the count is full.

i just can't seem to get the cpu to chase balls just outside the zone

[Brando70]

For the record, despite DSP being down most of the week, my work productivity has still suffered because I'm sitting here thinking about a damn videogame.

Anyway, vin, to answer the walks question -- I throw probably two per game. If you hurry through and just hurl away, you might not throw any, but you'll probably get shelled in the process. I still need to tweak the CPU swing slider because the AI still swings at a lot of first pitches, even marginal strikes or stuff out of the zone, and often makes contact. But I definitely get behind while pitching quite a bit, and pitching out of a jam is no gimme.

I am getting better at getting Ks. I finally struck out a lot of guys last night -- 9 total, 7 by Wood in 7 innings, 2 by Dempster in 2 innings. It is not easy, but here's what I've found:

--Gotta try to get that first pitch strike on the corner.

--Rely on your best pitches the most. You need to mix it up, true, but the CPU will make contact with your weaker pitches more easily. I found this out with Wood. Teams have trouble hitting his 4-seamer when he's on, and I pounded Jack Wilson with 4 in a row to strike him out.

--Break your patterns. While you often want to lead with your best pitch or two, using a totally different pitch from time to time. Same goes for locations.

--Throw balls. Even if the CPU doesn't swing, it helps set up the K. I do this a lot to safely establish a pattern. Say two strikes on the outside, then another outside pitch outside the zone, then the killer on the inside.

--Pay attention to what batters are hitting. It really seems to me like some guys hit certain pitches well, and also some are more aggressive on first-pitch swings. Use the pitch history function with every batter.

--Know the breaks of the pitches. Don't break toward the meat of the plate (this is especially true on 2-seamers, cut fastballs, and sliders). Also, know how the meter works. For instance, on a 12-6 curve, stopping short of the sweet spot will hang the pitch and greatly increase your pitcher's chance of whiplash Stopping late will increase the break out of the zone, probably resulting in a ball but not in a crushed dinger.

[MizzouRah]

I was going to post some tips, but brando took care of it.

Using the btp view makes it a tad harder to pitch, but with just the cursor on fade and everything else off, I've had a lot of variety pitching. I think I'm #2 in the division era wise so far.


Todd

[dbdynsty25]

Teams have trouble hitting his 4-seamer when he's on, and I pounded Jack Wilson with 4 in a row to strike him out.

His dad will be very disappointed to hear that. He works at the post office that I go to when I need to ship stuff. They look almost identicle...it's pretty scary.

[RallyMonkey]

I have nothing to add to the gameplay as i agree wholeheartedly with everything already said. This game does so many things great that the minor issues (and actually i have NO real issues) are so easily overlooked. But i did i have one thing happen this morning that i hadn't heard before. If someone posted this elsewhere within these 13 pages i apologize.

0-1 count on my batter and the announcer goes through his "here's the pitch" thing. The pitch is a ball and he says "that makes the count 1 and 0, oh, actually, it's 1 and 1".

As if i wasn't immersed in this game enough. Good stuff.

[Leebo33]

i just can't seem to get the cpu to chase balls just outside the zone

I'm not talking about throwing balls just outside the zone. Try throwing in some balls that are way off as well. Even if they don't chase them it will still setup your next pitch. If you have them 0-2 throw a ball in the dirt or aim halfway between the dirt and the bottom of the strike zone. Waste a pitch way up out of the strike zone.

You usually need to hit the spot dead on with the pitching meter to get them to miss. If you are having trouble hitting the sweet spot, then adjust it to make it easier.

You should get 5-10 Ks a game if you are hitting the meter spot, mixing up pitches, throwing plenty of balls well out of the strike zone, using your best pitches in key situations, aiming for the cold zones and watching to see if the CPU is moving in the batter's box, etc.

[JackB1]

I am fine with MLB2K5 being an "online only" game.
Many games only get played online by me: ESPN2K5,
GR2, TOCA2......it goes on. To be honest, why would
you even want to play the AI when you can play another
human?

Here is what I don't like about MVP:

>>I really think that you have not spend too much time with MVP and prolly won't. Maybe you'll pull a PK and give it another chance when you get frustrated. MLB 2K5 is still my favorite game, but you can't deny MVP's greatness. I think I just found a game killing bug in MLB 2K5 that will make it a online game only. So sad that none of the ESPN/Sega/2K games can deliver a complete package.

[JackB1]

I am fine with MLB2K5 being an "online only" game.
Many games only get played online by me: ESPN2K5,
GR2, TOCA2......it goes on. To be honest, why would
you even want to play the AI when you can play another
human?

Here is what I don't like about MVP:

>>I really think that you have not spend too much time with MVP and prolly won't. Maybe you'll pull a PK and give it another chance when you get frustrated. MLB 2K5 is still my favorite game, but you can't deny MVP's greatness. I think I just found a game killing bug in MLB 2K5 that will make it a online game only. So sad that none of the ESPN/Sega/2K games can deliver a complete package.

[ScoopBrady]

Uh-oh, double post. I hope Jack was just jacked up on sugar or something.

[Leebo33]

Uh-oh, double post. I hope Jack was just jacked up on sugar or something.

Nope. I've been having troubles today. It took about 5 minutes for one of my posts to post, I couldn't access the site for about 10 minutes, and I received the "post doesn't exist message." These are the same things that happened to me before.

[HipE]

MatthewK:

I started out the same way in my franchise. I'm guessing out of my first 15 games, at least half of the games ended 1-0 or 2-0. It is possible to jump all over the CPU early though. I'm on an offensive tear lately, and during my current six game winning streak, I haven't scored under 4 runs in a game. I've had quite a few games where I put up 4 or 5 runs in the first couple of innings. I think it all boils down to being patient at the plate and not swinging at bad pitches. Each game that goes by, I draw more and more walks and become even more comfortable at the plate.

Vinny:

For the season, I'm averaging a tad over 3 walks a game on all star default after 35 games. However, it seems like I've been more in the range of 4-6 walks a game recently as I get more comfortable with judging pitches.

Like everyone else is saying, this game is very good, even if the hitting is quite different than what we are used to. The variety of things that can happen on any given play really make it hard to stop playing. It seems like every single game something completely new and cool happens. Last night, I was losing to the Astros 1-0 in the 9th inning, Oswalt just completely shut me down through 8. However, I led off the 9th with a double by Barrett. My next batter popped out, and the batter after that was intentionally walked. I then drew another walk to load the bases, followed by a popout when I got impatient and hacked at a pitch trying to hit a sac fly. Then with two outs and the bases loaded, I drew another walk to tie the game. That brought Nomar to the plate, and all I'm thinking about is trying to draw another walk to take the lead. The count went to 3-2, and all I'm thinking about is to not swing at a bad pitch and end the game. I almost convinced myself not to swing no matter what, I was nearly positive the next pitch wouldn't be a strike. However, the next pitch was a fastball up and in, I turned on it, and smoked a 460 ft grand slam over the train tracks at Minute Maid park. I literally jumped off my couch and yelled and pumped my fist.

[Sudz]

thanks for the pitching tips.


db...nuts

[dbdynsty25]

Sudz...cashews.

[GridIronGhost]

I am fine with MLB2K5 being an "online only" game.
Many games only get played online by me: ESPN2K5,
GR2, TOCA2......it goes on. To be honest, why would
you even want to play the AI when you can play another
human?

My XBL experience has not been too good. I'll take a CPU game any day over human players on XBL. As far as playing someone head to head it's a blast. I can reach over and b*tch slap them when they start f***in around. Can't do that on XBL, you can only pick up your marbles and go elsewhere. Most of the good games are still in my rotation and have very good AI, sometimes better then a human opponent.

[pigpen81]

My only complaints so far:

Double Play animations and the 2B covering second is not done well.

Relief pitchers pitching well over what they should and then being fresh the next game.

Not much else comes to mind right now.

[MizzouRah]

forgot about the relief pitching issue.. I've been seeing this as well. My closer has always been fresh, even after a two inning game. I think there is a fatigue slider?


Todd

[Bill_Abner]

forgot about the relief pitching issue.. I've been seeing this as well. My closer has always been fresh, even after a two inning game. I think there is a fatigue slider?


Todd

Yes Todd there is a relief pitcher fatigue slider but I dunno if it impacts being rested the next day or not.

[dbdynsty25]

forgot about the relief pitching issue.. I've been seeing this as well. My closer has always been fresh, even after a two inning game. I think there is a fatigue slider?

I'm not sure there really is an issue there. I've noticed that there is more "fatigue" when a pitcher pitches on consecutive days, rather than an unusually long appearance. I think that would be true too...think about it. It's easy for a guy to pitch multiple innings in one game and then skipping a day or whatever. But take that same reliever and warm him up and insert him into the game multiple times in a row and I think that takes it's toll to a higher degree.

I've got no problem with a closer going two innings and then coming back fresh the next night. That happens all of the time. When was the last time a closer closed out three games in a row? That probably happens a lot less. That's my interpretation anyway.

[pk500]

I've got no problem with a closer going two innings and then coming back fresh the next night. That happens all of the time. When was the last time a closer closed out three games in a row? That probably happens a lot less. That's my interpretation anyway.

Agreed. I'm no baseball zealot, but let's say that closer throws 20 or fewer pitches in those two innings. Are closer's arms that fragile in baseball that they can't recover in 24 hours from throwing 20 or fewer pitches?

That's a serious question, not a sarcastic one. Connie Mack or Bill James, I ain't.

Take care,
PK

[thejake]

I am loving this game. I liked last years a lot and I figured if they fixed all the major issues (player progression, left handed power, etc..) that this would be the perfect game for me and I was right. I am looking to ride this and Winning Eleven 8 all the way till college football.

[Leebo33]

Since the injuries during play on the field are so cool, it would be awesome if pitchers get hurt if you use them too much (although I hope it wouldn't be overdone). I think I did read that someone had a pitcher get hurt when they pitched them too long in a game with low stamina.

[Danimal]

Maybe it is my imagination, but I swear that when I have used a relief pitcher a lot, when I got to warm him up in the bullpen his stamina is like 44/48 instead of full.

He still comesi nto the game at 100%, but he seems to go down a lot faster.

I'll have to pay closer attention.

[laurenskye]

Since the injuries during play on the field are so cool, it would be awesome if pitchers get hurt if you use them too much (although I hope it wouldn't be overdone). I think I did read that someone had a pitcher get hurt when they pitched them too long in a game with low stamina.

I've had it happen. around the 8th inning, pulled a muscle.